Troops retake Bama, 35 towns

This brings to 36 the number of towns that have been retaken from Boko Haram since the start of a four-nation military offensive, coordinator of the National Information Centre Mike Omeri told AFP.Several towns and villages including Gamboru, Ngala, Kala-Balge, Marte, Abadam, Monguno, Kukawa, Damasak, Mafa and Dikwa have been liberated in the past three […]

This brings to 36 the number of towns that have been retaken from Boko Haram since the start of a four-nation military offensive, coordinator of the National Information Centre Mike Omeri told AFP.
Several towns and villages including Gamboru, Ngala, Kala-Balge, Marte, Abadam, Monguno, Kukawa, Damasak, Mafa and Dikwa have been liberated in the past three weeks, some by regional troops and others by Nigerian soldiers.
Bama town was seized by the Boko Haram in September 2014, forcing troops of the 202 Tank Battalion, the first class emir and thousands of his subjects to flee to Maiduguri.
“Bama is here and our next prize is Gwoza; surely, Shekau is within reach,” a military officer said.
A top security source who confirmed the development said the big story about the recapture of Bama was the liberation of hundreds of people, especially women and children who were held hostage in various places, including the army barracks, the prisons and the emir’s palace.
He said contrary to earlier reports suggesting that Bama was recaptured on Tuesday, it was around 12.30 pm yesterday that the terrorists were subdued.
He said between Monday and Tuesday, a serious operation was carried out by fighter jets which cleared the terrain for ground troops.
Another source said most of the women and children liberated in Bama need special attention.
“Many of them are malnourished, some have cough, especially children. Besides liberating the town, our personnel are also intervening in the area of providing health services to the victims,” he said. He however said it would take long time for Bama to be safe for occupation by its people.
“A lot of destruction has taken place and all these need to be addressed. We must also clear the town of explosives that were buried in various places. There are corpses also…All these are serious humanitarian issues,” he said.
Omeri told AFP yesterday that four towns fell since last Friday, including three in Borno state and Buni Yadi, in neighbouring Yobe.
Crucial “co-operations and alliances” have led to victories over the Islamist rebels, he said, thanking Cameroon, Chad and Niger for cutting off “the supply lines of the terrorists”.
“It is hoped that the unfolding regional cooperation will hasten the total defeat and extermination of Boko Haram in Nigeria and the sub-region,” he added.